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Melissa Mulvaney

Finding Meaning, Joy & Purpose in the Chaos & Crazy of Life...and Helping You Find Yours Too!

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April 13, 2015 By Melissa Mulvaney

H- Hold Hands

Everywhere. Often. With all of your loved ones. Repeat. ...

Filed Under: Motherhood Matters, My Life..the chaos & crazy Tagged With: H, hd hands, hold hands

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What can you thank God for today? #findinggratitu

What can you thank God for today?

#findinggratitude #findinggratitudeinthesmallthings #findingjoyinthemiddle #psalm107 #givethankstothelord #givethankstothelordforheisgood #hisloveenduresforever #fortwayneindiana #fortwaynebotanicalconservatory

When my son decided to join the Army, I was thrill

When my son decided to join the Army, I was thrilled he was following God’s call on his life to serve. I was proud that he was willing to defend and uphold our great country.

I still am.

But I didn’t think about how much our life would be full of this…goodbyes.

Him joining in 2020 brought many more goodbyes than hellos as we were not allowed to attend his boot camp and AIT graduations. Huge moments in his life, that he had worked and sacrificed harder than most people will ever realize….and we couldn’t be there to support and celebrate him and his accomplishments.

It was heartbreaking.

When a person chooses to serve in the military, they aren’t the only ones whose lives are impacted.

Family members and loved ones have to learn what life looks like with their person far from home. Sometimes, in harm’s way.

It isn’t easy…and some days it has shred my heart into pieces, but knowing my son has chosen to be a member of the US Army brings me so much pride and gratitude.

I’ve learned the goodbyes, as hard as they are, sweeten the hellos.

I’ve learned that even though you know you are getting the call when he arrives in boot camp where he will have to read a script saying he has reported and can say nothing off script and you try to stay strong, not wanting to cry and upset him…breaks you. And you weep and he hears and you know how much harder you just made this for him. That feels like failure.

I’ve learned that a tiny note, with wobbly handwriting, scribbled in the dark from a young man with little sleep will make your heart soar for days. That is joy.

I’ve learned that a surprise FaceTime from boot camp and seeing my boy’s face put my heart at ease. That is peace.

I’ve learned that hugs in airports can make months of longing disappear-when they’re hellos.

I’ve learned that hugs of goodbye are the bittersweet burden of having in son in the Army.

And pulling away from an airport with one less person in your car can make you weep.

And so can when a man in a truck behind you notices you and realizes what you are doing. And he thanks you for your service.
(Continued in comments)

Did you know that you can do one simple thing to m

Did you know that you can do one simple thing to make someone’s day?

This week’s MidWeek Pep Talk is all about how a stranger in a parking lot made my day by doing this one simple thing.

#midweekpeptalk #peptalkformoms #encouragementformoms #momencouragement #onesimplething #makesomeonesday #complimentsomeone #giveacompliment #findingjoyinthemiddle #christianmomencouragement #shareasmile #shareasmiletoday

Thrift shopping is one of my favorite hobbies. Th

Thrift shopping is one of my favorite hobbies.

This week I found these 👠 , and they might just be the craziest thing I’ve found at a thrift store.

If you’re a thrifter, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen?

I can’t wait to read your comments! ⬇️

#thriftshop #thriftstorefinds #thrifting #thriftingislife #findingjoyinthemiddle #findinggratitude #findingthefun #thatsoundsfun #shoeswithfish #fishshoes

Did you know I used to teach preschool? Every mo

Did you know I used to teach preschool?

Every morning I started class with this song. Singing it to a room full of four-year-olds and having them echo it back was lovely!

Declaring that the Lord had made this day, and that we would rejoice in it tucked truth in their hearts and mine.

Little did I know that God was preparing my heart to use this song long after my teaching days were done.

This psalm of gratitude is one of many I love to meditate on during the month of November.

Will you join me?

Let’s share what we are rejoicing in together!

I’ll go first:
I am rejoicing in the way God is working to give one of my sons, that desires of his heart. And I am so grateful that I get a front row seat to watch God work!

Ok…your turn!!

#findinggratitude #findgratitude #findingjoyinthemiddle #gratitudechallenge #gratitudechallenge2023 #begrateful

#thisistheday #thisisthedaythelordhasmade #iwillrejoice #beglad #psalm118 #psalm11824

You don’t want to miss out on the easiest, low c

You don’t want to miss out on the easiest, low commitment gratitude challenge for the month of November!

Tomorrow I’ll be sending out all the details to my email subscribers.

Not on the list yet? Click the link in my bio to sign up!

#findinggratitude #findingjoyinthemiddle #findingjoyinthejourney #novembergratitude #novembergratitudechallenge #bethankful

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the

Give thanks
in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Every month I take a picture of the same spot on f

Every month I take a picture of the same spot on front of my house.

It’s an intentional way to mark the changes all around me, and I use it as a tool to pay attention to the changes within me too.

But today, when I took the first picture, I was struck by the difference between the 2 trees closest in view.

The second picture shows an autumn tree showing off in glorious color.

The third picture is of a tree, directly across the road from it: barren. It has shed its leaves already for the season.

If you only saw the 2nd picture, you would be amazed at the beauty of the autumn day. Stunning, right? An abundance of beauty.

But if you only saw the 3rd picture of the barren tree, you would be thinking of lack. Perhaps death.

But by taking a step back and capturing both trees, we have the perspective of both abundance and lack. Beauty and scarcity together.

So many times in the messy middle of life we get focused on our circumstances and only see the negative. The hard. The bad.

But if we will take a step back and enlarge our vision and perspective, we will find the beauty. The abundance. The joy.

Friend, if you are walking through a hard season, take a step back. The beauty and the blessings are there…if you look for them.

#melissasonceamonthspot #joyfulgratitude #sharegratitude #findingjoyinthemiddle #findingbeauty

Do you see it? 👀 The word ✨JOY✨? As I walk

Do you see it? 👀
The word ✨JOY✨?

As I walked the aisles of Aldi, the word ‘joyfully’ jumped out at me from the side of the mango box.

Why you ask?

Because I am always looking for joy. Both the word and the actually moments that bring me joy.

And you know what? I find it…often.

BECAUSE I’M LOOKING FOR IT!

We find what we’re looking for.

If you look for the worst in situations…you’ll find it.

If you look for joy, you’ll find it.

There’s science behind it…but since science isn’t my favorite and I’d rather focus on joy instead…I hope you’ll just trust me that it’s true. 🤣🤣

What are you looking for as you go through your days?

#findingjoyinthemiddle #ccwrite #ccwrites #aldiaisleofshame #aldi #joyfullygrown #joyfullyliving #lookingforjoy #sahmlife #payingattention #lookaroundyou #eyeswideopen #findingjoy #findingjoyeveryday #findingjoyinthelittlethings

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,

Therefore, as you received
Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk in him, rooted
and built up in him and
established in the faith,
just as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7

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